‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (July 8th 2022)
It’s Monday morning, so you know what that means… it’s time for our review of Friday night’s episode of AEW: Rampage, which this week emanated from the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial in Rochester, New York. Once again we’ve got Tony Schiavone, Excalibur AND Jim Ross on commentary, so let’s get to the review!
Match #1: Eddie Kingston def. Konosuke Takeshita
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Kingston used a side headlock takeover on Takeshita, but Takeshita scissored Eddie’s head. Both men got to their feet in a stalemate. Kingston grabbed Takeshita by the wrists but Takeshita reversed it, and then Kingston countered. Takeshita backed Eddie into the ropes and took advantage of the moment. Eddie followed up with a gut wrench suplex. Both men traded chops until Kingston thumbed Takeshita in the eyes. Takeshita fired elbow strikes in the corner but Eddie answered with a headbutt. Takeshita used his speed to wallop Eddie with a lariat and followed with a blue thunder bomb for a near fall. Takeshita rocked Eddie with a German Suplex on the ring apron! On the floor Eddie sent Takeshita for a ride with an exploder suplex! Back in the ring, Kingston and Takeshita collided with clotheslines. Eddie hit a Liger Bomb on Takeshita for a two-count! Takeshita nailed Kingston with a sheer drop brainbuster for a near fall on Kingston! Takeshita changed levels and blasted Kingston with forearms. Eddie retaliated with a half and half suplex but Takeshita came back with a lariat. Kingston used a spinning backfist, fell on top of Takeshita, and scored the pin!
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #2: Gates of Agony (Toa Liona & Kaun) def. Lee Moriarty & Jonathan Gresham
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Caprice Coleman joined the commentary team for this match. Gates of Agony attacked the opposition before the bell rang. Gates of Agony used tandem offense to work over Lee Moriarty. Lee tried to make the tag to Gresham but Gresham walked away to confront Tully. Jim Ross questioned why Gresham would allow himself to be distracted while his teammate desperately needed a tag. Moriarty used a low bridge and sent Gates of Agony spilling outside the ring. Lee went to make the tag but Jonathan Gresham turned his back and walked out on Lee Moriarty. Gresham hugged Tully! Left alone, Lee tried to fend off Gates of Agony by himself! Kaun hoisted up Lee and dropped him across his knees. Liona grabbed the pin.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Mercedes Martinez & Serena Deeb def. Kayla Sparks & Christina Marie
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Deeb suplexed Christina Marie and then swept out her legs. Deeb picked Christina apart piece by piece. Mercedes grabbed the tag and used a sliding knee strike on Christina Marie. Mercedes dropped Christina across the top rope, knocking the wind out of her. Deeb grabbed a blind tag and applied the Serenity Lock, forcing Christina Marie to tap out! Mercedes pushed Deeb off Christina Maria, as Deeb wouldn’t let go of the hold. Deeb rocked Mercedes with a clothesline and then put Mercedes in the Serenity Lock!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Orange Cassidy def. Tony Nese
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
If Orange Cassidy loses, he has to sign Sterling’s petition to get Swerve Strickland removed from the AEW roster. Nese charged in but Orange Cassidy avoided contact. Nese grabbed Orange in a side headlock takeover. Nese hit the ropes with tremendous speed and then knocked down Orange with a shoulder tackle. Orange rolled out of the way of the leg drop from Nese. Cassidy dropkicked Nese, taking Nese off his feet. Nese charged back and back elbowed Orange Cassidy. Nese used a hammer uppercut and then kicked Cassidy. Nese followed up with a gut buster for a near fall. Outside the ring, Sterling began to kick Orange Cassidy until Danhausen walked over, sending Sterling scurrying. Back in the ring, Nese grounded and pounded Cassidy. Next Nese applied the body scissors. Orange escaped, but Nese followed up with a left strike to Orange. Nese blocked a DDT from Orange and countered with a Northern Lights Suplex. Tony Nese applied pressure to Orange with multiple strikes in the corner. Nese elevated Orange to the top rope. Nese climbed up for a superplex attempt but Orange hit Nese with a haymaker. Sterling jumped onto the ring apron but Danhausen confronted Sterling. Before Danhausen could curse Sterling, Nese hit a sliding dropkick. Back in the ring, Orange shocked Nese with the Stun Dog Millionaire for a near fall! Nese ducked the Orange Punch and countered with a German Suplex. Nese blasted Cassidy with a thrust kick to the side of the head for another near fall! Nese was looking for a pump handle slam but Orange planted Nese with two DDTs! Orange hit a third DDT, this time off the top turnbuckle. Sterling jumped back on the apron. Nese grabbed Orange from behind and dropped him with a pump handle slam for a near fall. Nese tried for the running knee but Orange avoided it. While ref Aubrey Edwards was distracted, Sterling jumped into the ring. Danhausen wiped out Sterling. Orange hit the Orange Punch on Nese, knocking him for a flip, and then pinned Nese!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
A damn good show that opened with one of the best inter-generational matches I think I’ve ever seen. Kingston showed a true display of his wrestling skills and the young Takeshita matched him step by step, delivering a match that felt like two guys fighting for their pride and their lives; and without any ridiculous showboating, any blood and guts, just pure wrestling at its best. That was followed by Toa Liona and Kaun appearing under their new moniker “Gates of Agony” in what ended up being essentially a squash match. It’s great to see Liona and Kaun given a more high-profile match given that both men have been so good in their YouTube matches for the company. The women’s tag match was another squash, built basically to sell the Deeb/Martinez feud but it did the job well. As for the main event, that had to be the best outing for Tony Nese so far in AEW. The match had a big fight feel rather than the comedy match it could’ve been, with both men bringing their proverbial A-game to the match and making it a well-fought, well-matched fight. Not quite as good as the opener but it was still one hell of a main event!
